How to Replace Your Whole House Air Conditioner

If you have a whole house air conditioner that is over 10 years old you may want to start thinking about replacing it. Even if your air conditioner has been working properly chances are the efficiency is much lower then today's units. With the rising cost of electricity you may find a replacement air conditioner will pay for itself in a matter of a few years so it is something to consider.

SEER Standard

The SEER Standard is a measure of the efficiency of the air conditioner. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Starting in 2006 the United States Department of Energy mandated that the minimum efficiency of HVAC units would be increased from 10 to 13 SEER. Systems built prior to the early 1990's likely have a SEER of 10 or below. A system 20 years old might have a SEER of 8.

Air Conditioner Energy Savings

As an example of the annual energy savings that can be achieved by a higher SEER replacement whole house air conditioner consider a case where your present air conditioner has a SEER of 8. If you chose a replacement whole house air conditioner of 14, one step above the minimum of 13, your average annual energy savings would be 43%. Choosing a 16 SEER the savings might be 50% and the high end 19.5 air conditioner could get up to 59% savings (Trane Co. Tyler, TX).

Choosing an Whole House Air Conditioner

Prior to selecting a contractor it is suggested that you study what brands of air conditioners have favorable repair histories and features you may want to evaluate further. Various online resources are available (see reference links) as well as printed materials. In the latter category Consumer Reports periodically has a listing of popular manufacturers along with their relative frequency of repairs. The manufacturers have websites that have details on the particular features of their air conditioner models.